Renowned filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma, known for iconic films like ‘Satya’, ‘Company’, and ‘Sarkar’, recently shared his views on the current trend of making mythological films in India. Varma, never one to mince words, described this trend as “dangerous.” He argued that while mythological films were successful in the past, their chances of box office success today are slim, primarily due to the risk of controversy.
When questioned about the forthcoming Ramayan trilogy featuring Ranbir Kapoor and other similar projects, Varma emphasized the perils involved. He explained, “It’s very dangerous to make films on mythological stories. There are two reasons for this–the stories which are known to people and you try to make it different, it can have a reverse effect. You can’t try this in our country because people worship them.” He pointed out that the situation was different in earlier times, referencing the success of Babubhai Mistry’s ‘Sampurana Ramayana’ and the mythological films of NT Rama Rao. “I think it could have worked in the past when Babubhai Mistry made Sampurana Ramayana and all the mythological films of NT Rama Rao. But, today they have reached a status of reverence. Maybe there was not so much polarisation or social media constantly challenging with people’s interpretation,” Varma noted.
Citing the example of Om Raut’s ‘Adipurush, which faced significant criticism, Varma said, “If you look at Adipurush, it was more about Saif Ali Khan’s look and Hanuman’s look. Because of all this constant opiniated criticism, it is very dangerous to take topics from that shelf. Nevertheless, these filmmakers are putting their efforts and I wish them all the best..”
The interviewer then mentioned to Ram Gopal Varma that some filmmakers aim to engage a younger audience, who may not be as familiar with mythological stories. In response, Varma suggested a different approach. He said, “In that case, one should not claim they are making Ramayana.” He elaborated, “My point is why not make a new story and and not call it Ramayana? If you sell Adipurush as a Prabhas film, people will look at it differently, but if I am told this is Ramayana, I will look at it differently. Why touch a sensitive topic than showing it as a completely new thing and avoiding the fight against the onslaught of negativity?”
‘Adipurush’ faced significant criticism upon its release, particularly targeting the dialogues penned by Manoj Muntashir and its visual effects. In response to the intense backlash, the filmmakers swiftly revised the dialogues. However, the damage had already been done, and the initial negative reception left a lasting impact.
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